BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL BASED ON TOGETHERNESS

Our frequent visits to Tasipa village brought us closer and closer to the people on that village. so much joy can be generated if we are having more friends and upon doing things it can become easier when we are doing it together. One day when Peggy was visiting the village she was discussing with the villagers about their concern about their village in terms of developing their well being. It came to a point that the villagers was so sad that the village has not been progressing. Another sad factor that their children must endure a long walk when they are going to school. There was no school at Tasipa village until few days ago.  Upon discussing about their children must walk such a long distance to the neighboring village they are telling Peggy about their children difficulties. As young as a primary school children , they must walk about 4 km. It is not an easy job for a primary school children but they are doing their best for the children for getting some education for them . The villagers were so concern during the rainy season. During the dry season the children are able to make some short cuts about 1,2 km but from the end of November till February the river are flooded and the children are not able to make the short cut any more .  The problem has been raised to us since our visit to this village during the famine period ( 2002 , 2003 and 2004) . One day Peggy was asking some 4 representative from this village to come to the orphanage and discussing about their problem(s) . Peggy came with an idea of making the villagers to work together for themself.  It is not known when the government will be able to build a school building for Tasipa village. Even though actually the government was already giving the funding since 2002 but the building has not been made and the funding was said to be spent already. It is a sad case  indeed. Peggy was suggesting that they must do things together and willing to sacrifice some of their belonging for their village children. She was asking the villager to decide a designated location for the school. Also asking the villagers to cut some of their trees for making the building structure as well as the bench in the class room. All materials and man power were from Tasipa village it self . Peggy is only providing this school building with nails and some metal wire to tie some of the building structure. It was only about 350 000 rupiah of 35 USD from us to buy wire and nails and " a school"  was made based on their togetherness. It is a luxury o the Tasipa children for having a school in their own village.  When the school is ready , some representative of Tasipa village was asking the authority ( education department ) to come and to officially open the school for them. A school that was built by themslef and not from the government.  The villagers was asked that a toilet and some other things must be made before an official personnel coming to officially open the school. After the whole day trying to get the funding and failed , the representative of the villagers came to the orphanage at 00 00 am. Lucky that Peggy and I were still awake and able to talked to them. They need some 10 zink roofs, 10 bags of cements , 250 bricks and somethings else ( it was worth about 2 million Rupiah or 200 USD). We told them that we will deliver the required items on the next day. Anyway the villagers were able to build the toilet and some other required matters before the officer from the government come to officially open the school.  It is done and the school if fucntioning now. It was not that easy to convince them to work together and but our focus on " preaching" the importance of eduction was able to unite the thoughts and to get it done immediately. Praise The Lord for this school facility. We are sure that it will be a great school one day soon. So far only 3 teachers are available but later when we are having a better facility and bigger we surely will needing more teacher and a better ones too ( teachers with good hearts for the children).

Peggy so happy with the villager's togetherness

Tina Vanderpol from Vancouver and Janet Collins from Sydney enjoying their quality time

I never seen a class room like this before in my life

its a different kind of class room as it was built because of such togetherness among the village people

the roof is made from sea coconut leaves and the wall is from a fresh cut bamboo trees  while the structure is from tree trunks

leading a thankful prayer for the building facility and for the food that we want to share with them

helping hand from Janet to feed the little girl

food that we cooked our self that we are sharing with them

to be continued